January 25 / 14.30 Newcastle (AW)

14.30

Standard To Slow

SCU Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £5129.32
  • 1m 2f 42y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
SCU Selects Expert Tips By BetUK Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 111-14 BF

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Yet another who has benefited from the switch to Mick Appleby, completing a 1m four-timer in recent weeks; blew the start (not for the first time) when winning run came to a halt at Southwell (1m again) on Monday so that probably shouldn't be taken to suggest that the handicapper's got him, particularly as Billy Loughnane takes 5lb off this time; first attempt at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

14

(12)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

13:30 York

Zealot

8st 8lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

All eight wins have been on the AW and he's been coming up short in weaker handicaps than this on turf.

12/1

2nd

1

(1)

25th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 1f 11y

Class 4

17:50 Goodwood

Zealot

9st 9lb

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

dwelt start, took keen hold, raced in second, led narrowly going best 2f out, headed over 1f out, no match for winner

7/2

11/4

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 341- D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Shaped well in a warm race on the first of two turf starts for Sir Michael Stoute last spring and, having had wind surgery and been sold for 60,000gns in October, this well-bred colt easily made a winning return to action for his new stable in a 1m2f Lingfield novice seven weeks ago; more will be needed now moving into handicap company against established opposition but he's promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(17)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Crystal Delight

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Harry Eustace

With new yard this year and much improved when readily making all in good-ground handicaps at Epsom (1m2f) and York (1m4f) this spring; a first crack at 1m6f isn't fanciful but he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat in 1m4f Listed race at Newmarket eight weeks ago.

20/1

5th

4

(3)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Crystal Delight

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Harry Eustace

led narrowly, headed and raced in second from over 7f out

7/2

1st

6

(10)

15th May 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

14:15 York

Crystal Delight

9st 6lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Harry Eustace

made all, set steady pace, increased tempo over 3f out, ridden clear inside final furlong, readily

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 5111-3 CD

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Won first three starts for this yard and lost little in defeat when third in a very competitive 1m2f event at Lingfield on Saturday, particularly as he didn't enjoy the smoothest run through; good shout if over those exertions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(8)

13th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:50 Doncaster

Dream Harder

9st 5lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ian Williams

Losing run up to 13; beaten a head at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot last month and not disgraced when front-running on AW last time; upped in trip and the cheekpieces (of last five starts) are removed, but others are more persuasive.

16/1

6th

4

(5)

29th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 3

20:10 Southwell (AW)

Dream Harder

9st 12lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Ian Williams

Losing run up to 12, but beaten only a head at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot (1m4f, good) last time; raised 3lb for that, but all four AW wins have come on Tapeta so he is respected back on this surface.

7/1

11/1

Form: 17553- CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
C&D winner in October; another creditable effort when third to the reopposing Dream Harder over C&D four weeks ago but that rival may be too strong again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(10)

26th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

16:28 Redcar

Freak Out

10st 0lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Gemma Tutty

The standout in-form candidate after front-running efforts on last three starts brought two 1m2f Beverley wins and a short-head defeat off this mark in blanket finish over Musselburgh's 1m4f; should go very well again.

3/1

2nd

3

(3)

11th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

14:20 Musselburgh

Freak Out

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: Gemma Tutty

Prominent racer; feasibly weighted seeking a hat-trick after back-to-back Beverley wins (1m2f; has risen a combined total of 5lb); the stable is going really well, he's versatile ground wise, and this sharp track should suit; enthusiasm is tempered by inconclusive stamina over 1m4f.

7/2

5th
7 (3)
Busby

11/1

Form: 6112-6

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Added to his healthy AW strike-rate with two 9.5f Wolverhampton wins last month; just as good when chasing home the reopposing Dream Harder there on Boxing Day but another nudge up the weights seemed to anchor him last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(9)

21st Oct 2024

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

17:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Busby

9st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Philip Kirby

Has four wins and a second to his name in eight runs over C&D but he's on the downgrade and has become very inconsistent; is well treated if on a going day but that's true of many at this level.

10/1

14/1

Form: 00956- CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Three wins in 2022, including over C&D off this mark in January; ended the year with some respectable efforts on AW and certainly no surprise were he to go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(8)

1st Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 170y

Class 3

16:20 Ripon

Society Red

8st 11lb

J: Paul Hanagan

T: Richard Fahey

Has worn these cheekpieces the last twice; inconsistent 9yo who was disappointing at Ayr (1m2f, good) last time but prior to that he was a good second over this C&D (soft) and he's capable bouncing back from a poor run; has won over C&D and is versatile ground-wise; not written off.

25/1

9th

4

(3)

8th May 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Ayr

Society Red

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

Got back on track in first-time cheekpieces when second of eight in 1m2f Ripon handicap 18 days ago; he needs considering nudged up 1lb with the headgear retained.

6/1

2nd

7

(9)

20th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:30 Ripon

Society Red

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

in touch with leaders on outer

16/1

Form: 67707-

Last run: 124 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Close third in a 1m Irish Group 2 in September 2021 but nothing like that in his six starts since, the last three for this yard; tongue-tie off, first-time cheekpieces on now returning to AW (won a Dundalk maiden on debut) after a four-month break; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

2nd Oct 2023

Soft

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Absolute Ruler

10st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, disputed lead, lost position 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

7th

1

(6)

30th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

14:10 Catterick

Absolute Ruler

10st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, dropped to midfield after 4f, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened

12/1

6th

2

3rd Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:35 Southwell

Absolute Ruler

11st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, led, not fluent when headed 3 out, ridden and disputing lead after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

4/5

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.20
Straight Forecast £12.84
Trifecta £24.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Dream Harder

TOPSPEED:

Busby

NEWMARKET:

Crystal Delight

The Sun:

Zealot

Telegraph:

Crystal Delight

RP Ratings:

Dream Harder

The Times:

Dream Harder

Daily Mail:

Dream Harder

D Express:

Dream Harder

Daily Mirror:

Dream Harder

Daily Record:

Dream Harder

The Star:

Zealot

POSTDATA:

Busby

The Guardian:

Busby